Women’s Match Racing Worlds Coming to Finland

Renowned for its Match Racing pedigree, the NJK Sailing Center in Helsinki, Finland will host the 2017 Women’s Match Racing World Championship, offering a sailing arena located close to the city centre with excellent viewing opportunities for spectators.

Together with The Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation and the Finnish Olympic Committee, NJK runs a training centre for elite sailors and has previously hosted the inaugural Youth Match Racing World Championship in 2014. It is also set to hold the first round of the 2016 Women’s International Match Racing Series in June.

“The Evaluation Panel had the difficult task of choosing between three excellent bids and Helsinki came out on top,” said Chair of the Match Racing Committee, Liz Baylis. “With Finland’s rich culture in match racing, including a medal performance in the 2012 Olympics, we expect nothing short of an exceptional regatta with great community support and excellent sailing.”

The 2017 Women’s Match Racing World Championship will take place in Finland in a year in which the country celebrates its 100th anniversary of independence.

Applications for the host venue opened in July 2015 with the Evaluation Panel reviewing all received applications. The World Sailing’s Board of Directors then endorsed the recommendation made by the Panel.

The selection of the NJK Sailing Center is subject to a successful site visit and satisfactory contractual arrangements. Dates will be confirmed and released for the regatta in the near future.

Source: Richard Aspland, World Sailing